Sonette T. Magnus of Lewis Rice

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Sonette Magnus is an associate practicing in the Litigation Department for Lewis Rice. She represents clients in both the public and private sectors and counsels on a broad scope of issues, including trademark prosecution and litigation, food labeling compliance, and various lobbying, governmental, and public-private partnership matters.

Sonette’s extensive trademark experience includes obtaining and maintaining the registration of trademarks on the U.S. Principal Register, responding to office actions, initiating and responding to cancellation proceedings, and other litigation before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and federal courts. She counsels clients on various brand protection and policing initiatives, including advertisement compliance with municipal, state, and federal laws, and she has represented clients in various false advertising, deceptive trade practices, and corporate disputes. Additionally, Sonette counsels and represents clients in litigation involving right of publicity and right of privacy matters in both state and federal court, compliance with state and federal labeling laws, and all aspects of trademark litigation. Sonette also advises clients concerning their rights under the Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Sonette’s experience also includes counseling clients on food labeling and packaging laws, particularly federally-mandated ingredient and allergen disclosures. She advises clients on compliance with packaging requirements, FDA compliance, as well as other federal and state regulatory agency requirements.

Sonette also practices in the Governmental Solutions and Administrative Law Department, where her experience includes implementing practical strategies to achieve business results and influence public policy in the greater St. Louis area. She focuses on bridging strategic alliances between the public and private sector, particularly shepherding public-private partnerships.

Prior to joining Lewis Rice, Sonette practiced at a mid-size local law firm, and she was a law clerk to Chief Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Emory University School of Law (J.D.2009)
    • Certificate in Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization
    • Order of Barristers National Honor Society
    • 2009 Student Legal Services Outstanding Caseworker Award
    • 2009 State Bar of Georgia Labor Law Section Award
  • University of Toronto, St. George Campus (B.A.with distinction2006)
    • Criminology and Political Science

Legal Background

  • Law Clerk, Kathy A. Surratt-States, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDMO (2009-2015)
  • Interim Director, Legal Studies Study-Abroad Program, Webster University, Legal Studies Department (2015-2016)
  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Bankruptcy, Introduction to Law and International Law Courses, Webster University, Legal Studies Department (2011-present)

Professional Affiliations

  • Advisory Board Member, Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal
  • 2014 Leadership Summit Delegate, Networking Planning Committee, Midwest Chapter, International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
  • Former Director of Fox2 News Call a Lawyer Program, Former YLD Treasurer, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Trustee, Federal Practice Memorial Trust
  • Registered Lobbyist

Admissions

  • Missouri Bar
  • Illinois Bar
  • Georgia Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri

Charitable & Civic Activities

  • Board of Directors, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

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United States Licensed Attorney Required for Foreign-Domiciled U.S. Trademarks

Since August 3, 2019, all foreign-domiciled U.S. trademark applicants, registrants and parties to proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board must be represented by an attorney licensed to practice law in the U.S. (as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 11.1). Such U.S. licensed attorneys are required to both affirm that … Continue Reading
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